If there were an Oscar for best digital experience, IKEA would win it. ItsSpace10 arenain Copenhagen a literal lobster tank before the Swedish furniture brand took it over in 2015 has developed some seriously cutting-edge customer technologies.

Creating a chatbot isn't just about designing something; it's also about designing someone. That's why startup x.ai hired Harvard grad Anna Kelsey, whose education centered around folklore mythology and theater. Kelsey's experience with characters and how they react and respond to one another helps her createchatbots with personality, which keep conversations feeling fresh and unscripted.

Think back to your most recent chatbot experience. Do you remember what the bot said? How it made you feel? Probably not. Most chatbots provide useful information, but they do so in a generic and (let's be honest) boring way.